Hearty chickpea, pasta soup warms up wintry nights

Chickpeas and orzo make this a hearty soup and a meal in itself. (Linda Gassenheimer/TNS)

Chickpeas and orzo make this a hearty soup and a meal in itself. It’s an ancient Roman dish. Complete the meal with warm Cauliflower Salad, another Italian dish, which is from Campania, an area that includes Naples.

Leeks can have dirt inside. An easy way to clean leeks is to make long cuts from the base of the leek to the tip of the leaves forming strips and run cold water through the leaves.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the celery and leeks. Saute 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes with juice, cover and cook 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas, chicken broth and orzo. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide between two bowls and sprinkle Parmesan on top. Add parsley (optional) and serve.